Parramatta star Dylan Brown says coach Brad Arthur’s axing was unfair, insists players are to blame for poor form
- Dylan Brown says Brad Arthur’s firing was unfair
- Says players are responsible for Parramatta’s woes
- Brown is the first Eels player to speak publicly about issues
Parramatta star Dylan Brown says it was ‘unfair’ for Brad Arthur to be sacked as the club’s coach at this stage of the season and admits the players are responsible for his downfall as the Eels languish in the bottom four.
Brown is the first Eels player to speak publicly about the veteran coach’s sacking, with Arthur sacked after a tough loss to the Storm in Magic Round where they leaked 48 points to a team missing some of its biggest stars.
Arthur and Brown had a special bond from the moment the Kiwis playmaker made his NRL debut in 2019, and it explains why he was sad to see his mentor shown the door after leading the Eels to the grand final in 2022 .
‘We are all adults and things happen that we don’t want to happen. “It was unexpected what happened and it’s disappointing to see him go because many of us have a good relationship with Brad,” he said.
Dylan Brown says it was ‘unfair’ that Brad Arthur was sacked as club coach
Arthur oversaw a torrid run of six defeats from seven games, which led to his departure
‘For him to be gone, especially at this time of the season, is disappointing.
“We are disappointed, but we have to move on and get results because there are fans waiting for our performance. Brad wouldn’t perform on the field, we players have to.
“It’s disappointing that the results were the reason he was fired and that’s on us.
“Many of us have reflected on that and we think it was our fault, but the only thing that will get us out of this is each other. There’s nothing we can do about it other than act, and we’re not doing that right now.”
The timing of Arthur’s dismissal coincided with Parramatta’s undercover mission to sign Wayne Bennett, who confirmed the next day he was leaving for the Rabbitohs in 2025.
The season is far from over for the Eels, who are likely to get key figures Mitch Moses and Clint Gutherson back from injury on Thursday evening. That’s why some people were surprised that Arthur was cut instead of getting more time with his stars back.
“The decision came from the top down and we don’t know exactly why it happened at this point, but we always knew there was pressure on him and he knew it,” Brown said after the 42-26 defeat to Souths. .
“I felt like it was unfair, but there are reasons why they decided to do this.
‘We’re the ones who go there every week. When you talk to anyone – not just the leadership group, but players 1-30 – it’s our responsibility. It’s humiliating.’
Co-captain Junior Paulo sat alongside interim coach Trent Barrett at the post-match press conference and said he was ‘shocked’ when he heard the news about Arthur. It is now up to the players to turn things around with only three wins in the match. 2024.
Dylan Browns says it is the players’ responsibility to turn the season around
That starts with their defense, which has been terrible at times this season, with the Eels conceding 30 points per game and going without a win away from home despite boasting one of the best attacking squads in the league.
“I think that’s been the story of our season. It’s not the points we don’t score, it’s the points we get,” Brown said.
“It’s quite embarrassing again, but we just have to find some momentum and keep it going. Every time they score, we have the same conversations behind the posts (saying ‘win the set and get the ball back’), but we don’t do that.”